Method for making golf balls



June 15, 1943. PL KALcwsKl `METHOD .FOR MAKING GOLF BALLS Filed April" 15. 1940" P. KALowsKl METHOD FOR MAKING GOLF BALLS June 15, 1943.

Filed April 15, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E @deff/Zoff Phil@ l/Zwgza Patented .inne i5, l

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assalto me naar as ilhillip ita-iowsm, miicagmlii.. assigner to Geli l f a aeration of iline., Chicago, nois aspartaam asi-ii is, iste. sensi No. 329,627

(ci. rea-e) 3 Claims.

i thereby simultaneously joining them, confining liquid within .the container, and cutting said halves from said sheets.

The obJect of the present invention is to pro# vide a novel and improvedmethod for 4forming liquid centers for golf balls. f

A further object oi the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing golfV ball centers in which a major portion of the process will occur in a bath of/a liquid adapted to be confined within the centers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of forming golf ball centers which will include the formation of segments of a body in appropriate molds lby the use of suction ad vantageously applied to said molds.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of manufacturing golf ball centers which will include a novel step for assisting in cutting a molded portion of a hollow body from a sheet of vulcanizablematerial.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for manufacturing golf ball centers which will include the steps of forming -portions of a hollow` body in appropriatejuxtaposed molds, immersing the same in a bath oi liquid adapted to be confined within the reimmersirlg same in a bath of liquid and. bringing said molds together causing said segments to-ioin and simultaneously confining the liquid within said body and cutting'said segments from said sheets.

Other objects of the present invention lie in th speciiic steps and technique of my new method.

For the purpose of facilitating an understandingl of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered 11in connection with the following desulting body and bringing said molds together cooperatively to form said body.

A further object of the present invention is t0 provide va novel method for the manufacture ofgolf ball centers which will includethe step of bringing a pair of preformed portions of a hollow body togethersimultaneously joining same, enclosing liquid within same and cutting same from 'sheets of vulcanizable material from whence same have been formed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel methodof manufacturing golf ball centers which will comprise forming segments of a hollowbody from sheets of vulscriptie my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages shouldkbe readily understow and appreelated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several gures of the drawings: V-

Fig. i is a plan view of the apparatus of my new invention in position prior to receiving sheetsor Y slabs of rubber upon the molds thereof.

' Fig. 2 is a sectional view through one of'vthe mold retainers.

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the basinwith the mold retainers juxtaposed in the process oi forming liquid lled centers.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view` taken generally along the line -d of Fig. 3'.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one. oi the molds in position in the mold retainer.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the mold taken along the line of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a. sectional view taken on a transverse plane through the mold generally indicated by 'i-'i of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate portions of the -process of forming the bodies of the centers upon the mold retainers and within the molds.

Figs. 10 and 11 villustrate the completion of the liquid filled body within the basin and between the mold retainers disposed therein.

Fig, 12 is a sectional View through'a completed liquid nlled center.

Generally the invention is practised in the following manner:

Slabs or sheets of raw vulcanizable rubber are disposed upon respective series of molds adapted canizable material, said segments being disposed inappropriate molds, Juxtaposing said molds so that said segments may be cooperatively joined,

to form the halves of the completed liquid-filled bodies and vacuum is applied to thelmolds inside thereof. Novel apparatus and means for enabling `the vacuum to be exerted which are associated also within the scope of the V with said molds ar invention. The in lvidual molds of the series each having a half formation therein, they are accurately brought together after being immersed in a -bath of the liquid with which the centers are to be filled. Considerable force is then applied to the molds causing the halves of the vulcanizable material to unite at the edges thereof, confining liquid therein and at the same time cutting the halves now formed into individual containers, out of the slabs or sheets from whence same were formed. The bodies or containers are then removed'from the molds and are placed in perfectly spherical vulcanizing molds and thus vulcanized to completed shape.

The apparatus described is advantageously suited for carrying out my new method, but obviously variations and modifications are possible for practise of my process. v

The apparatus which Iutilize consists primarily of four elements or groups. of mechanisms associated for the perfomance `of a function or series of functions producing a singular result. These are (1) molding apparatus, including molds, evacuating and shaping means. and support therefor; (2) immersing apparatus. including means and mechanisms for associating the molds so that they may be immersed, mechanism for immersing the molds and for removing same from the bath, the bath itself; (3) compression apparatus including mechanism for bringing thermolds together while in the bath and squeezing same with great force to cause the halves to unite and be cut out of their slabs,

and levers and cam arrangements for accomplishing same; and (4)' vulcanizing apparatus, including appropriate molds, vulcanizing ovens, and handling apparatus. f

The process which I contemplate requires the use of substantially all of the above elements, but the portion of my invention which relates to apparatus is only directed to the first three of the above elements and combinations thereof.

It should be obvious that while I have separated the elements above into more or less distinct classifications for the purpose of discussion, the elements are so inter-related that a presentment of any one would hardly be complete without reference to at least portions of the others. With. 'this in mind, I shall now proceed to describe the specific construction of the apparatus and method of my invention.

The reference characters I and Il designate generally a pair of wing-like members hereinafter referred to as mold retainers adapted to have a plurality of inserts, hereinafter termed molds I2 disposed therein. Said molds I2 areA formed in a manner described below and are forced into openings providedtherefor in the retainers III and Ii. 'I'he molds i2 are disposed in rows along the retainers as shown and are adapted to cooperate with one another when said retainers I0 and Il are brought together. The retainers I0 and II are provided with hinge brackets I3 and I4 respectively, fixed thereto on edges theerof by means of bolts I5 or the like. Said hinge brackets are provided with bearing portins tIS and formed therewith and rotatively journalled on a cylindrical shaft I8 xedly positioned between the arms I9 of the plate member 20. The bearing member I1 isprovided with a slotted opening 2i instead of the conventional cricular opening with which the bearing portion i6 is provided in order to permit the motion of the retainer II parallel to the retainer member I0 under certain conditions described below.

i1 respectively; integrally4 The plate member 20 is generally of I-shaped cross section for strength and lightness and is provided at one end thereof with an integrally ,formed bearing 22 which is keyed or in other manner fixed to a rotatable shaft 23. Said shaft 23 is positioned at one,sde of the basin 24 as shown by means .of a pair of ears 25 attached to said basin 24 and between which the bearing 22 is adapted to rotate and a bracketed collar 26 also attached to said basin at one end thereof.

It should be understood during this explanation that the entire apparatus may be disposed 'upon any table or framework for the purpose of spring 28, the other end of said spring being attached to the means supporting the basin, or to the basin 24 itself. The spring 28 is so positioned as to exert a moment' upon the shaft 22 opposite in direction to the moment exerted upon the shaft by the weight and size of the mold retainers Il, II and the plate member 2|, there by balancing'same to some extent and facilitating the manipulation thereof. 'I'he end of the shaft 23 opposite to the collar 21 is provided with a fixed sleeve 29 having an arm 20 attached thereto. 'I'he purpose of the arm 30 is to permit swinging of the assembly of mold ,retainers I0 and II together with the plate member 2l about the shaft 23 and into the basin as will be described hereinafter.

Each of the wing-like mold retainers Il and I i is provided as explained above` with molds arranged, in the embodiment shown, in parallel rows along one side or face of said retainers. Said molds I2 are disposed within cavities 24 provided therefor and may be forced or screw threaded into their positions as shown. The

" embodiment shown provides for forcing of the like the others,A hence an explanation of one will sumce. The mold I2 comprises a cylin- -drical member, one face 33 of which is disposed within the cylindrical seat or cavity 34 provided therefor in the mold retainer, and the other face of which is exposed to the face 31 of the retainer. The exposed face of the mold I2 is hollowed concavely in the center thereof at 25 to conform to the shape ofhalf of the proposed liquid-filled .center prior to the vulcanization thereof. It is obvious that the mold adapted to cooperate with the half being described will be its counterpart and hence the shape resulting will be that formed between the two concave portions of the molds.

In determining the shape which I would utilize for the unvulcanized center, my experiments have extended from spherical to various shapes 4 obtained by increasing or decreasing the vertical escano practically any shape utilized, but the shape shown in the drawings has produced the most satisfactory results. Fig. 1l shows a liquid-lined body 36 having such a shape. This shape is obtained by ma'king the hollows 35 less than half of a sphere so thatv the body produced is more or less oblate in geometrical coniiguration. I find that pressure'distribution is most uniform with this shape and the body produced is consequently of uniform thickness.

The exposed face of the mold I2 projects spaced about the mold I2 are a plurality of passageways 44 extending longitudinally thereof and each communicating with a reduced diameter portion 45 opening up to the bottom of the annular groove 40 for a purpose to be described presently. The bottom of each of the passageways 44 are connected by means of an annular groove 46 cut in the ybottom face 33 therebetween.

From the above description it should now beA apparent that al1 of the passageways which open up to the face of the mold retainer I3 are interconnected so that when suction is applied to the system it will be of equal unit strength at each of the openings 45 and the opening 42. In order to apply a vacuum to each of the molds i2 the retainers I and II are provided with systems of grooves and passageways which interconnect each of the cavities 34 and which connect also with .a tube 41 extending out from one of the edges of each of the retainers I0 or II. Said tubes 4l lead to a controlled source of vacuum such as a pump or the like (not shown) by means of rubber tubes 48 or any other convenient means.

While any convenient method of arranging the passage and groove system within the retainer may immediately suggest itself to those skilled in the art, I have shown a simple and satisfactory one which gives good results. I drill a plurality of holes along the edge of the retainer as shown in Fig, 2 resulting in the passageways 49 which thus connect the arranged pairs of the mold inserts I2. The passageways are drilled at the ex act level of .the cavity bottom 34. The ends of the passageways 49 are then plugged as at 5d except for one which is provided with the tube 41 as above described. A long passage 5I is formed by drilling from one end edge of the retainer at the same level as passages 49 and perpendicularly thereto and connecting one row of cavities 34. Its end 52 is then plugged. It is believed that the passageway system that I utilize has been sufliciently described s0 that an explanation of the operation thereof in applying vacuum to all of the openings in the molds` I2 is unnecessary.

Referringagain to the molds I2, it will be noted that the construction `thereof is peculiar to the arrangement of the openings. I have found that vwithout the arrangement which I use, dilculties in separating the member formed from the slabs out of which it is formed arise. The provision of 'with the passageway 42. Circumferentiallythe groove 40 and the circumferentially spaced openings 45 within the groove provide a most efficient cutting means.

In operation, rst a slab 53rof raw unvulcanized rubberis laid over the mold I2 and a similar slab is placed over the companion mold I2y in the opposite mold retainer adapted to cooperate therewith. A valve in the pressure system is then opened drawing air out of the pasageway and groove system described above and exerting a vacuum or suction through theopenings 42 and 45. The slab 53 is sucked down into the cavity of the mold I2l and caused to conform to the contour thereof by means of the opening 42 as 'shown in Fig. 9. The portion of the slab 53 disposed immediately over the annular groove 40 is drawn into the groove by the vacuum exerted by thev circumferentially spaced openings posiytion'ed in the groove. The drawing of the slab into the groove forms a bead 54 about the rubber half being formed also causing slight Drotuberances to be drawn into the entrances of the openings 45. The bead 54 and the protuberances are not necessary to the formation of the member 36 but they are also not detrimental to the iinished product shown in Fig. l2. Their presence, however, indicates that the maximum beneficial vacuum has been applied so that the slab is drawn as tightly down into the cavity :i5-and as completely about the mold I2 as is possible. The tight lit of the member within the cavity and the drawing taut of the edge of the half being formed besides causing the formation of a more perfect member 36, tightly draws the slab 53 down upon the cutting ring 39 so that when ltwo molds are forced together there will be a perfect cutting off of the halves from their respective slabs. The halves in the meantime are caused to adhere by reason of the beads 54 being forced together and joined immediately adjacent to the place where the cutting oi`occurs. The pulling down of the edges by the openings 45 into the groove 45 produces a comparatively wide area in which the halves are contacted when brought together thus causing perfect adherence without loss of liquid. v

It will be seen that there are certain variables which must be controlled in order to produce satisfactory liquid-filled centers from molds of the type that I have lust described. A few of these which must be determined by trial are vthe size of the openings 45 and the groove 45.

amount of pressure to apply and so forth. It'` should be obvious that the pressure shouldlnot be so great as to draw the rubber intothe openings an amount which will producesubstantialv grooves is thus a matter of choice, judgment and skill.

contained in the retainers.

isfactorily with such openings 45,\but-I have produced reasonably satisfactory liquid-lined cenportions thereof have been drawninto the cavities 35 and the grooves 4B of all of the molds l2 The retainer Il' is now rotated counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8 about the shaft I8 until it rests upon the stiff coiled springs 55 positioned in the retainerl i in generally rectangular configuration in 0rder to support the retainer H spaced from itself.

'Ihe two retainers are now in juxtaposed position. In order to assure perfect alignment of the respective molds l2 the retainer I0 is provided with a pair of `xed conical-ended hardened steel pins 55 on each end thereof on the'face 31 of the retainer adapted to cooperate with a pair of correspondingly positioned openings 51 in the retainer Il. It is desirable that when the retainer Ii is resting upon the springs 55 the pins 55 are just disposed in the entrances of the holes 51 preparatory to entering same. Both of the retainers are then moved together about the shaft i! to a position where they arein the plane of the plate member 20. The bar member is then rotated clockwise causing the rotation of the shaft 23 and moving the plate member 20 and the juxtaposed retainers l and Il into the posltion shown in Fig. 4 within the space 58 provided therefor in the basin 24. The basin is provided as previously explained lwith ears 25 and brackets 25 for the purpose of supporting the shaft 23.

'Ihe basin 24 is formed of cast iron or steel in the embodiment which I have used and is connected by a pipe 59 with a reservoir 80 in which the level of the water or other liquid used may be maintained. Cocks and valves are contained in the reservoir, but the system forms no part of my present invention other than assuring a source of liquid. The level o f the liquid in the basin is such that when the juxtaposed retainers are rotated into the space 58 they are completely below the surface of the liquid, the level being controlled by overflow drainpipe 59'. With regard to the type of liquid used, I have found the most convenient and economical to be water, of course, but my invention may be practised with practically any of the liquids commonly used in golf ball centers.

Within the basin is provided a mechanism for squeezing or compressing the juxtaposed retainers I0 and VIl 4together to cause the-halves to unite and be cut out of the slabs 53. The specic details will be presently described, but generally, the force is applied by bracing a movable member 5I against the rear wall 62 of the basin and squeezing the juxtaposed retainers between the member 6I and the front wall 53. In other words the forces applied tend to separate the walls l2 and 53.

In order to prevent injury tothe basin as to separate, it being understood'that the forces applied by the compression mechanism 'are enorl mous, I provide novel means for reenforcing the basin. About the basin24 and molded integrally s with the bottom and the two walls front 63 and ,v canized in any appropriate manner.

ribs 54' with their longest cross sectional dimensio'n positioned parallel to the direction in which the squeezing force is applied. The ribs v'54 also serve asjrests by means of which the basin 24 may be disposed upon a tableor the like.

The front wall 53 has astand-off pad 54 preferably integrally formed therewith to prevent the force from the retainer to be applied directly against the wall 53. A removable block 84" is positioned in front of the stand-off pad. Thus, if there is variation in the size of the retainers used with the basin, it may be compensated for by replacement of the block 54".

In rotating the juxtaposed retainers ll and H into the space 58 lwithin the basin the bar mem ber 30 is used by theoperator as heretofore explained, and assisting 'in the operation is the heavy coiled spring 28. The amount of rotation possible is limited by a plurality of bar members 55 fixed to the sides of the plate member 2l and Shaving rubber bumpers 66 attached to the ends thereof. Said bumpers 66 are adapted to come to rest upon the front wall 53, of the basin 24 to properly position the retainers` within same. An auxiliary rest 53 may be provided for the bumpers offering a higher surface than the edge of the wall of the basin if it is so desired.

With the retainers in position in the basin 24 under the surface of the liquid, the'next operation is to squeeze or compress the retainers together to cause the molded halvesto unite. 0f course, since this operation is carried on under thesurface of the liquid, the resulting body will be devoid of any air and will have the liquid contained therein under slight compression. The reason for this is the fact that the inner volume of the nal liquid-filled member 3G is slightly less than the volume when the halves begin to unite.

The retainers i0 and Il may then be brought together under the influence of great pressure to thereby cause the preformed halves of the mem- Aber 35 formed within the 'molds I2'to unite and form the complete liquid filled golf ball center. After this operation has been completed the pressure from the retainers may be released andl the bar 30 manipulated to swing the retainers out of the basin 24 to the position shown in Fig. l. I'he liquid filled centers 35 may then be removed and placed in suitable trays ready for the next step which is the vulcanizing of the same to the desired shape.

Following this, the liquid-filled members 36 are placed in appropriate Vulcanizing molds and vul- I In so plac ing the centers, I prefer positioning them so that the beads 54 will run perpendicular to the feather caused Vby-the vulcanizing mold. The result is the perfect liquid-filled sphere 55 shown in Fig. I2.

It will be noted that during the entire eX- planation above, I have constantly referred to only one pair of retainers, and have pointed out mechanism for manipulating same. 'As will be indicated from Fig. l, I have provided a duplicate setof retainers l0 and Il on the opposite side of the basin 24, together with the associated shafts 23, ears 25 and so on. Thus, the single basin serves two pairs of mold retainers. Explanation of the construction of the second pair of retainers is obviously unnecessary since the same -are the counterparts of the pairV described above.

For increasing the\rate of production of my liquid-filled centers, I have found that the arrangement of a pair of retainers on either side of the basin is a convenient one. Thus, while the left pair of retainers is being operated upon,"and provided with slabs 53, inserted in the water and the pressure applied, and so on, the-right pair of retainers which has, in the meantime, just undergone this process, is being serviced by the removal of the scraps and centers formed thereon, so that as soon as the left pair are removed from the water, the right pair, which have been provided with the slabs in the meantime, are ready to go into the basin. The process may thus continue at an unusually high rate of speed. Obviously, although these operations are performed by hand, the device adapts itself readily to mechanical operation.

It will be seen that I have provided a new and improved method and means for the manufacture of liquid-lled golf ball centers in an economical and eillcient manner. The product which results from my new process enables more perfect centers to be formed than heretofore possible in that it is impossible for anything but liquid to be confined Within the halves thereof. Further, it will be seen that the method lends itself well to the production of liquid-filled centers in a very economical manner and at an exceedingly high rate.

I claim: Y'

1. The method of molding spherical ball centers with walls of uniform thickness, consisting in disposing slabs of vulcanizable material having a substantially uniform thickness over molds adapted to form the halves of a hollow body, forming said slabs into halves of a hollow oblate body the interior of which is concave throughout its entire surface in said molds, the internal volume of said hollow body being equal to the volume of the ball center being made. uniting said halves and then vulcanizing said oblate body in a spherical mold whereby a sphericalbody is produced.

2. The method of molding spherical ball centers with walls of uniform thickness, consisting in disposing slabs of vuicanizable material of substantially uniform thickness over molds adapted to form the halves of a hollow body, forming said slabs into halves of a hollow oblate body the interior of which is concave throughout its entire surface in said molds, the internal `volume of said body being equal to the volume of the ball center being made, immersing said molds with their associated slabs in a bath of liquid to be confined within the resultant body, causing a pair of said molds to be brought into contacting engagement with one another to confine liquid within the resultant hollow body and to cause said halves to unite to'complete the formation of said oblate body, anr then vulcanizing said body in a spherical mold whereby a spherical body is produced.

3. The method of molding spherical ball centers with walls of uniform thickness, consisting in disposing slabs of vuicanizable material of substantially uniform thickness over molds adapted to vform the halves of a hollow body,

forming said slabs into halves of a hollow oblatev body the interior of which is concave throughout its entire surface in said molds, the internal volume of said body being equal to the volume of the ball center being made, applying suction to said slab at a point substantially in the center of said mold and also adjacent the upper outer edge of said mold, forcing a pair of such molds with their associated slabs together until the haives to be joined are cut from their respective slabs, and maintaining the suction upon said slabs during the entire operation of the formation of said oblate body, the bringing together of said molds being accomplished in a bath of liquid whereby a portion of said bath will be 'confined within said body, and then vulcanizing saidbody in a spherical mold whereby a spherical body is Produced.

PHILLIP KALOWSKI. 

